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Wii U GamePads are Region Locked. For Some Reason

Posted Dec 26, 2012 at 12:15PM EST by Todd B

Listed in: News Tags: Gamepad, Nintendo, region locking

Oh, Nintendo. Every time you take a step forward into the bold new future of global commerce and interconnectivity, you do something stupid that makes you seem like a crazy backwards grandpa set in his obscure ways.

wiiu2

Example: The Wii U’s GamePads, which you use to play games (duh), are region locked. So if you were planning to bring your GamePad to Germany with you, it looks like you’re fresh out of luck. Or if you’re importing GamePads for some sort of black market gaming syndicate, or whatever.

Honestly, it’s unlikely that a situation will ever arise in which this will be a problem, but it’s such a weird thing for Nintendo to do that it’s still causing some minor ripples here in the blog zone.

Also, you know, nothing else is happening. Party hard!

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There's nothing weird about it at all. The games are region locked therefore the devices used to PLAY the games are also region locked. Although I suspect there's another reason and it has to do with local laws regarding the features on the device so they don't want the units bouncing around different countries.

# RE: RE: Wii U GamePads are Region Locked. For Some Reason — Enrique S 2012-12-27 20:18

good point

-1 # RE: Wii U GamePads are Region Locked. For Some Reason — dragonhart6505 2012-12-26 15:20

How is this even an issue? The Nintendo WiiU tablet isn't just region locked. Remember? It's also locked to the particular WiiU it came with. So without your console, what use is it to take it anywhere? Unless the fact that it is region locked means that the device spontaneously combusts as soon as it crosses borders, I don't think many people are gonna have problems. It is news though, I guess.

# TVii service is the reason — Lethal_NFS 2012-12-26 16:59

Because of the software the GamePad requires for the TVii service, the controllers are region locked. A japanese controller will not be able to locate your U-Verse channels and such. So yes, there is a reason.

-1 # RE: TVii service is the reason — dragonhart6505 2012-12-26 20:09

Ok, that makes sense I guess. So not being able to view U-verse channels in countries you don't reside in or speak the language of is a big deal to tweens and moms who want to watch their weight with the next edition of Wii fit. I suppose if you want to keep in contact with your Jap friends, better import a Jap Wii-U.

# Or..... — Lethal_NFS 2012-12-26 22:55

The moms or whoever can just purchase the gamepad for their region. I have never in my life had the need to purchase a controller from another country...

# RE: Or..... — dragonhart6505 2012-12-28 09:32

How can you buy another gamepad for a device that has the gamepad locked to the Wii-U system it came with? They don't offer just the gamepads for purchase. And then, the gamepad is region locked, as this article states. Therefore it wouldn't work with the system you own. That means you have to buy a whole new system from the region in which you want to use these features on.

I agree that I have never found any reason to buy a new controller from another country. Could you imagine having to buy a Japanese controller for your imported 360 in case you have a multiplayer game or one breaks? Also, WHY ONE GAMEPAD PER SYSTEM?! Nobody wants to use the stupid Wiimote to play New Super Mario Bros. U! I bought a new system to use it's new features with my friends, including the gamepad. None of this taking turns bullshit. I'm 23, not 10.

# RE: RE: Or..... — tosh.0 2012-12-28 18:02

Nothing you said made any sense.

1. The gamepad is not locked to it's original system. I took my gamepad to another system and synced it and it worked just fine.

2. Nintendo WILL sell the gamepads and the WiiU WILL be able to use 2 gamepads.

# RE: RE: RE: Or..... — dragonhart6505 2012-12-29 09:50

Then I take back my original statement. This is news to me as all I've heard is that the system isn't compatible with other gamepads. As I don't have any friends with a Wii-U and they all come to play my system I haven't been able to test that. I bought one and haven't researched any more on it other than games. The rumor that it would only be allowed one gamepad worried me greatly. Thanks for the enlightenment. Now we just need ZombieU to have Left 4 Dead style multiplayer and I'll be set!

# RE: Wii U GamePads are Region Locked. For Some Reason — Todd B 2012-12-27 13:47

I remember when the N64 came out, you could call Nintendo and say your controller didn't work. They'd send you a free replacement.

I took mine to the store and said it was a gift, then swapped it for a blue one. Good times.

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Wii U GamePads are Region Locked. For Some Reason

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